Expanding Garbage Receptacle

ABSTRACT

A garbage receptacle made of a plurality of side walls, where at least one side wall is connected to a hinge, which allows the side wall to fold outward, decreasing the resistance between the garbage bag and receptacle, making it less strenuous to remove the garbage bag. Built in obstructions block side walls from folding in or out too far and with the use of elastic and/or magnetic materials, the side walls return to their default upright positions. The position of the side walls can be controlled by hand, pedal or handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The garbage receptacle of the invention allows the user to remove the garbage bag without resistance from the receptacle and bag. Furthermore, it does not require any adjustments to the receptacle before and after removing the bag. Removing a garbage bag from a garbage can be a strenuous job, even when the bag has not been filled to its full capacity. Previous attempts have been made to solve this problem by ridding the garbage can of a vacuum that is formed under the bag while trying to pull it out and by reducing the resistance between the bag and garbage can. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,225, latches and a vertical slit are used to increase and decrease the perimeter of the garbage can, thereby making it easier to pull the bag out of the garbage can. The opening and closing of these latches are not necessarily convenient or aesthetic. In addition the garbage bag will fill the new unlatched perimeter and once again become a strenuous act.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The garbage receptacle of the invention disclosed allows a user to fill a garbage bag to its full capacity and lift the bag from the receptacle without exerting extra effort to compensate for the resistance and vacuum caused by the bag being forced against the receptacle. The receptacle walls are able to fold outward, in a flower blooming fashion, removing the resistance between the wall and bag. This garbage receptacle can come equipped with a pedal to control the position of the walls. Walls are bound to certain folding positions due to obstructions. This prevents the walls from folding outward or inward too far. Once the bag has been taken out of the receptacle elastic materials and/or magnets bring the walls back to a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a front view of a receptacle of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an interior view of a receptacle's pedal system in its default position.

FIG. 3 is an interior view of a receptacle side wall with a side wall folding outward.

FIG. 4 is an interior view of a receptacle side wall utilizing an elastic cord on the top of the side wall.

FIG. 5 is an interior view of a receptacle side wall utilizing magnetic material on the top of the side wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a garbage receptacle made of at least one side wall 1. Directly against the side wall 1 is a garbage bag 2, with no space in between as can be seen in FIG. 2. To retrieve the garbage bag 2 with more ease, it is necessary to decrease the contact between the side wall 1 and garbage bag 2.

The side wall 1 is attached to the base 5 of the receptacle by a hinge 3, which allows the side wall 1 to fold outward as illustrated in FIG. 3. The sidewall 1 can fold outward, but there is an exterior obstruction 16, as illustrated on FIG. 5, on the outside of the side wall 1 that limits the angle at which the side wall 1 can fold outward. There is also an interior obstruction 15 on the inner part on the hinge 3, which blocks the side wall 1 from folding inward. These obstructions make sure the side wall 1 does not fall to the ground or fold inward, which would be an inconvenience.

To make the receptacle more user friendly, there is a lower elastic material 4 attached from the side wall 1 to the base 5 of the receptacle. This creates a force that constantly causes the sidewall 1 to return to its upright position. There can also be a higher elastic material 20, which is placed within a hollow rim 11 located on top of the side wall 1. The higher elastic material 20 goes around the perimeter of the top of the receptacle pulling all side walls 1 into a closed receptacle position as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 illustrates the option for using magnetic materials 17 on the top edges of the side wall 1 pulling the walls together and holding them in their upright positions.

For the user's convenience, the receptacle can come equipped with a side wall foot pedal 7, which pushes the side wall 1 to fold outward. The side wall foot pedal 7 is leveraged on a lever surface 22. The side wall foot pedal 7 puts force on hub 9. The hub 9 can be in a hollow circular form to hold several rods 10 from several side walls. Rod 10 is attached to hub 9 and sidewall 1 by a bottom socket like joint 23 and a top socket like joint 24. These joints allow the rod 10 to change positions without breaking. For the user's convenience a handle 20 can be attached to the side wall 1 as seen in FIG. 3.

People are often concerned that the garbage bag 2 will rip and dirty the receptacle. Therefore there is a parabolic dish 19 that can collect any garbage that comes through a ripped garbage bag. The parabolic dish 19 is supported by a detachable support piece 18, which allows the user to clean the parabolic dish 19 easily. The detachable support piece 18 fits in a hollow area of hub 9, so extra weight is not exerted on the side wall foot pedal 7.

The receptacle can also utilize a generic cover foot pedal 6. An example of a generic cover foot pedal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,966. Both the side wall foot pedal 7 and the cover foot pedal 6 can be placed together in the pedal housing area 8. The cover's outer circumference 14 is attached to the cover hinge 12. The cover has a circular groove 13 caused by the cover's outer circumference 14 and the cover's inner circumference 24, which allows the side wall 1 to align in a closed wall receptacle when the cover is down. The cover the also be utilized without the use of the cover foot pedal 6 or cover hinge 12. 

1. A receptacle comprising: A bottom, a continuous side of walls, where at least one side wall is hinged to the bottom and capable of folding outward, an obstruction on the inner side of the hinged side wall capable of stopping side wall from falling inward, and each hinged side wall has at least one elastic object pulling the hinged side walls inward.
 2. A receptacle as in claim 1 further comprising a pedal used to push said side walls outward.
 3. A receptacle as in claim 1 further comprising a cover that holds side walls in closed formation.
 4. A receptacle as in claim 1 further comprising a handle.
 5. A receptacle as in claim 1 further comprising a dish to collect spilled garbage located under garbage bag.
 6. A receptacle comprising: A bottom, a continuous side of walls, where at least one side wall is hinged to the bottom and capable of folding outward, an obstruction on the inner and outer side of the hinged side wall capable of stopping side wall from falling inward and to the ground, and each hinged side wall has magnetic material holding the hinged side walls in closed formation.
 7. A receptacle as in claim 6 further comprising a dish to collect spilled garbage located under garbage bag. 